Japanese Animation(if not already posted)

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I wanted to bring this up seeing how that this kind of animation both makes us learn many things including it's Language, Culture, and Themes of it, yet I have to wonder how many here are fans of this and what favorite shows of this animation do you guys like from it?

If you really want to learn some language while watching try watching without subs.
You'll learn how pick up word and sentences over time. That's what I did along with other things and now I can watch episodes without subs (depending on the theme of course) and understand most of it.

I don't think you'll learn that much about the real Japanese culture by watching anime, but you'll pick up some relevant things such as culture festivals, after school club activities, greetings; partings, "coined" phrases that cannot be translated literally . But a lot of what you'll see is just fiction and isn't the real Japan. Just like the cartoons we see today mostly isn't a good picture of the western part of the world.

I can strongly recommend:

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (best one there is)
Death Note (Epic tier)
Code Geass (Epic tier)
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (Pretty damn great tier)
School Days (lulz tier) - don't read anything about it before you'll watch it. The surprise is worth it

Movies:
Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (best animated movie there is; including animated movies from all over the world)
Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu (Epic tier, viewing the TV-series first requiredt)

There are of course a lot more to see, but a lot of the joy is to search for it and find it yourself. It feels more rewarding.

Some links with anime database communities where you can look up anime or simply ask for it:
www.myanimelist.net
www.myanimenewsnetwork.com

If you enjoy the Japanese culture then I would also advice that you find yourself some non-animated movies to watch. Some of them are slice of life (doesn't have to be that theme, but that's normally the most realistic one) themed movies and depicts Japan quite well.

You should start out with these movies:
Okuribito (masterpiece)
Oldboy (Epic tier)

I hope this helped.

You mean anime right? Well I am one of the big fans of it on my site, my favourite genre is comedy.
Some of my favourites include:
Shinryaku! Ika Musume (Invade! Squid Girl): one of the best funiest anime about a Squid Girl Invader I have seen
Kore Wa Zombie Desu Ka? (Is he really a Zombie?): A comdey with a zombies, mute necromancer, chainsaw weilding magical girl, vocally abusive ninja vampire, etc.
Fairy Tail: my personal favourite shounen anime (things like Naruto and Bleach)
Haruhi: as mentioned by proxybear, it is good
Hayate no Gotoku (Hayate the Combat Butler): Filled with the most references and parodies I have seen, and Santa gets punched

In terms of showing the culture, I think good ones are:
Ichigo Mashimaro (Strawberry Matshmellow)
Lucky Star
Minami-ke

Yea, but I had to say it differently knowing that there are many who never understand what "Anime" is I guess, let alone the controversities that seem to surround this, but mainly the animes I seem to like revolve around Traditional feel of the culture, and where that includes Kenshin, Bleach, Inuyasha, Kekkaishi, Samurai Champloo, those type of animes, I tend to not like ones that seem more European setting unless it is those invlived with Miyazaki's Films,

But overall that is what I like TV show wise.

Have you tried Spice and Wolf, I think that is a rather good anime with a European setting, and as I mentioned before Fairy Tail is pretty good ot kind of mixes European fantasy with some Japanese things. I also think that some recent shows like Panty and Stocking and Heroman which were both set in America were not bad either, granted that Panty and Stocking generally made fun of or parodied America, while Heroman did have a few funny moments of things not being right.

But Heroman did have Stan Lee.
[img][800:720]http://img.kyon.pl/static/img/remiq.net_15689.jpg[/img]

Well Excel Saga was one of those that made off the parodied events too, but I feel that it seems that now and days when it comes to anime and such, I usually go with stuff that is well more of cultural references and such knowing it can be a learning experience on it.

Anime used to be a major obsession for me. My favourites:

CardCaptor Sakura
Rurouni Kenshin
Inuyasha
Hellsing
Trinity Blood
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Rose of Versailles
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Elfen Lied

Hey have you seen Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (Goodbye My Despair), I think it is a good one for learning little bits about the Japanese culture, it is largely a satyrical analysis of Japan, it is also surprising funny for its set up (suicidal teacher with class of crazies) and has a purpously controversial opening song. It is animated by SHAFT which is one of the really good studios, they have recently released some really popular/quality shows, especially Bakemonogatari (Ghostory) which is quite the delight with there little mysteries, art and characters. And SHAFT's receent hit of Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (Puella Magi Madoka Magica) has had fans talking about it a lot during it's run and is not the show it originally looks.

Another good one is the only anime that has gotten close to scaring me is Ghost Hunt which is a perfect representation of Japanese horror in animated style, and most of the ghosts kind of the Japanese cultured ones. Check the trailer HERE.

I think the type of series that I learnet the most about Japanese culture from would the slice of life moe shows like Lucky Star and Azumanga Daioh. They are the shows that act like a window to the normal life.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKtNTbFTtgM[/youtube]

I second "Death Note". I'm watching it right now and it's amazing. Is Cowboy Bebop any good?

A few of my favorite animes, would be

Samurai X : Trust and Betrayal.

This is what I recommend as a first viewing to most people interested in anime.
It's a really good story, and the art is really amazing. It's just so beautiful, and the music is good.
It's a great introduction to anime.

Spice and Wolf : This is a grown up (non-erotic) romance/friendship anime, it's fundamentally about two very lonely people who end up traveling together.
It's set in medieval Europe, but the themes are pretty much universal. The soundtrack is good as well.

Ghost in the shell : Stand alone complex. If you like deep and thoughtful anime based on robots and cyborgs, this is your anime, and if you really like to watch your anime dubbed, start with this.
This anime has fairly good dubbing for an anime. Infact I think the American Batou is better than the Japanese voice actor.

I forgot to mention Cowboy Bepop.

I very much recommend it.

its about time somebody made an anime thread. being entertained whilst picking up language and culture is a plus. i like mindf#ck and yuri anime. my favourites are
elfen lied (touches on many social issues and is depressing),
paranoia agent(for something so surreal it does show real life experience well),
mnemosyne(yuri, horror, detective anime)
winter cicadas(yaoi in a period setting and with no stereotypes which is rare),
ai no kusabi (yaoi and scifi)
boogiepop phantom(if you can follow the plot you're not watching it right).

^^^ What possesses you to tell us about yaoi and yuri that you like?

whats wrong with yuri and yaoi? are you a homophobe? would it make you feel better if i discussed animes with heterosexual relationships? would you care if they contained explicit content? no one here is that ignorant are they? don't make me more disappointed in humanity than i already am by responding in the affirmative... its not like i was discussing pornography in public or in around 3 yr olds.

I have not really seen many yaoi or yuri, well yaoi does not fit my taste, I checked out a little bit but, not for me. That is as long as you don't some certain jokes in Baka to Test, or Seitokai no Ichizon.

As for Yuri I have seen Kanamemo, which is not really tat bad and was rather cute, another good one is Sasameki Koto which also rather sweet and not really any explicit scenes at all, and Maria Holic. Possibly, Kampfer, although I don't know if genderswapping counts, and most likely Saki.

I don't let the controversies stop me from watching shows, for instance one surprisingly good one is Kodomo no Jikan that most turn away from in fear. Actually one of my favourites I am watching lately is Astarotte no Omocha which would make most flinch a bit in surprise by reading the premise, but it is not that bad.

I'm not homophobic, it's that those genres can be erotic. I don't think hetero erotic manga/anime should be recommended on this particular part of the board as well.
Anywho, I've had experience with people on the spectrum who didn't understand social norms and either said or did things that were generally innappropriate in public. I've seen this on the internet as well. This is one of the few reasons why Aspies/auties get bullied on the internet.